Oil cup



1927' c. E. LINEBARGER OIL CUP Filed July 14. 1922 Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES E. LINEBARGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OIL CUP.

Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to oil cups to be used for lubricating bearings, springs, and various other portions of machinery, automobiles, and the like. It has for its object the production of a suitable oil cup and suitable mechanism to be used in connection with the cup for effectively applying the oil; a particular object is to provide mechanism connected with the cup for effectively forcing the oil with suitable pressure into the bearings.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following description thereof.

Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of an oil cup which embodies the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a central, vertical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a fragmental elevation of the same at an angle of 90 to 20 Fig. 1, with a portion in section; and Figures 4 and 5 are fragmental views of modified portions of the cup. I

The oil cup which I have invented comprises a body 10 and a lid 11. The body por- 25 tion may be formed in any suitable manner; I prefer to-press it out of a single sheet of metal, forming during the process the integral shank 12, by means of which the cup is threaded into the bearing or other portions 30 of the mechanism. The cup also has formed thereon, preferably integral therewith, the ears 13 which support thebearings 14, in which are journaled the'pin 15. Pivoted to the pin 15 are ears 16 which are fixed to the lid 11. A spring 17 encircles the pin and is kept from rotating by means of an extension 18, while an extension 19 on the other end of the spring passes into a slot 20 in the overhanging support 22 of the ears 13. The extension 19 rests against the edge 23 of the cup lid, and the spring thus tends, at all times, to hold the lid closed.

When the body of the cup is formed by cutting and pressing from a sheet, it is desirable to avoid soldering or other means of fastening the wings 13 to the cup, these wings being integral with the body itself, and connected thereto at the upper portion of the cup. To strengthen the wings when the cup is formed, I provide depressions or grooves 21 in the side of the cup, into which the edges of the wings 13 are pressed when the cup is being formed. These grooves prevent any lateral bending of the wings without soldering or otherwise fastening the wings to the cup.

1922. Serial no. 574,900.

For the purpose of forcing the oil from the cup into the bearing, I provide Within the cup, a tube 25, in which is mounted a piston 26. The piston is connected in any suitable manner, such as by means of a yoke 27 to the lid of the cup, so that when the lid is raised the piston will be raised. As the piston is raised. oil from the on flows into the tube through the lateral tube 28, which is fixed to the tube 25 in any suitable manner. Then as the lid is depressed by the spring or otherwise, a valve 29,'mounted in the outer end of the tube 28, prevents the oil from passing back into the cup, and hence the oil is forced downwardly through the shank 12. A pin 30 prevents the Valve 29 from being forced by the oil into the tube 25. In' order to prevent any oil being drawn from the bearing up into the tube 25 when the piston is raised, I provide a valve 32 in the lower end of the tube 25, the valve being at all times forced upwardly by means of a spring 33 mounted in the shank of the oil cup.

The tube 25 is fixed in the cup in any suitabe manner. I prefer to force the lower end into the shank 12 so that the tube is held firmly in place by friction. The valve 32 and spring 33 may be mounted in the shank in any suitable manner. I prefer to mount them in a casing 34 which is forced into the lower end of the tube 25, a valve seat 35 being formed in the upper end of the casing, and a flange 36 in the lower end, supporting the lower end of the spring 33. h

A consideration of the oil cup which I have hereinabove described will show that, by working the lid 11 up and down, oil may be drawn into the tube 25 and forced through the shank of the cup to lubricate the bearing, and as much as may be desired may thus be forced in without any liability of the oil being drawn upwardly from the bearing through the shank. In this manner the bearing may be quickly and thoroughly lubricated.

The lid when closed fits snugly on the up per end of the cup, and the supporting portion 22 forms a rubbing fit with the lid as the lid closes, thus insuring a clean close fit between the lid and the supporting portion, and, with a snugl fitting lid held downwardly by the spring 17, no dust or other material can enter the cup. At the same time, the oil in the cup, by virtue of its weight and at times perhaps owing to the slight Working up and down of the piston 26 or the valves, will work through the valves into the bearing, and continuously lubricate the same. s

Figure 4 shows a somewhat modified form of cup, in which the overhanging portion 22, supporting the bearings of the pin 15, is partly cut away to allow the spring 17 to .acton-the lid. Eigure. 5 shows another modification in whichvtheears .l3of Figure 3 are replaced bymubular bearings 40 formed inomitheisheet material. I

Also the lid has a flange 41 projecting downwardly from its edge, which more com- ,pletely closes the openingo'f the cup, and Ithe front edge of this flangeis .forniedun- .even Ly, or serrated as indicated at A2, so as togprevent i slipping of anytool, suchasa screwdriver or: spout; of ,an ,oil can, which ,may -beusedtoopenthe lid. This isparticularly desirable as the,iorce-ofv the spring (has to l be overcome in opening. the lid and additional force is required vto operate the P st ,I claim asmy invention 1. An oil cup, comprising ,a casing having an oiloutlet, meansin said CLSlIIgfOL fOTC- ,ing-oiLfrom said casing through said, outlet, said means comprising a T-shaped tube with one endconnected-with said. outlet, a second endope-ning; towards the-bottom, of said casing and the third end opening upwardly 1n said-casmg,avalve nounted in said second one end connected withsaidoutlet, a second en PQIIiIlgt aIfds thejbottoin. of said, casing and the third end opening upwardly in saidcasing, a valve mountedi'in'said second and, vi pl iligenm unt in-s i th r n said easinghaving a hinged cover, means .p votaj y onn ing sai .c v w th. Sai ,plungeir, and resilient means v tending to hold said; cover closed, and a vvalve in said outlet. 1 ,8. An ofil cup )mpI ising a casing having an 01 outl t.mean ;inse 'ca ingit f or ing Qi i m i acasingthr ughi ai m t, said, means comprising aT Sh'a e'd, tube with one end connected with said outlet, a,s econd tend opening towards the l'gottom of said casling and the N third end opening upwardly in said casing a valve nountedjin said outlet, r

ya plunger mounted in said third end, said casing having a hinged cover, and 3 means pivotally connecting said cover with said plunger. p

In testimony whereof, ljhereunto set my hand. 3

CHARLES 

